as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the view that the constant mudslinging and negative campaigning contributes to the undermining of the public's faith in politics and government
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in weakening
to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way
She tried to undermine my authority by complaining about me to my boss. The events of the past year have undermined people's confidence in the government.
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Recent Examples of undermining
John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
The undermining of an independent judiciary.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Flores and Cantello also said many of their colleagues were placed on administrative leave after signing a letter of dissent criticizing EPA leadership’s undermining of public trust and disregard for scientific consensus.
—William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Saudi Arabia has publicly accused the United Arab Emirates – a fellow Gulf Arab state and former partner in the Yemen war – of undermining its national security, an unusually blunt charge that exposes a rift long kept behind closed doors.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Penn’s presence became a form of soft validation for a project that was already spooking investors, undermining private industry through expropriations, and hollowing out checks and balances.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Pushing further at the city level risks tipping fragile businesses and households past the breaking point, undermining the very communities public policy aims to protect.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
But the president himself might be personally undermining the value proposition of books about his favorite subject.
—Paul Farhi, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
The pressure campaign on the continent’s two largest economies — South Africa and Nigeria — will be sustained, undermining investment confidence.
—Semafor Staff, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
But then, so too do the ideological architects undermining New College.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed new tariffs on China for undermining regional producers.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
What is the purpose of this layering and undermining of the story’s authenticity?
—Verb
Defense attorney Leah Gillis countered that sequestering jurors would chill candid discussion and signal that open conversations about bias are not tolerated, undermining the goal of an impartial jury.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for undermining
Noun
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The house that burned was one small piece of a larger unraveling — the erosion not just of walls but of trust.—
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On a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, a deeply rooted Christian fishing community confronts the erosion of land and tradition, as their centuries-old way of life, anchored in faith, approaches a turning point.—
Verb
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Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
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This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Verb
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One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
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Freezing foods quickly helps preserve texture by preventing large ice crystals from damaging delicate cell walls.—
Verb
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Ride-hailing dominance is eroding consumer brand perception Market dynamics show that ride-hailing operators prioritize vehicles that deliver the strongest cost-to-performance ratio, often selecting models purely on economic efficiency.—
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But inflation and low interest rates end up eroding the value of household savings.—
Verb
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Low copper causes weakness by lowering energy production and impairing iron and healthy blood cells throughout the body.—
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The commerce clause allows Congress to deal with interstate commerce and seeks to prevent states from impairing it.—
Verb
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Autoliv and Tensor say their co-developed system is intended to remove those constraints without compromising safety.—
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Sustainability in travel is the respectful enjoyment of a destination’s environment without compromising the ability for future generations to do the same.—
Cite this Entry
“Undermining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undermining. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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